Chapter 10 - Attraction

Question 1

What is the propinquity effect?

What does it increase?

Answer 1

a.k.a proximity

People who we see and interact with the most are likely to become our friends and lovers.

It increases familiarity (mere exposure effect)

Question 2

What is functional distance in relation to the propinquity effect?

Answer 2

how architectural design impacts which people cross paths often

Question 3

what is the mere exposure effect?

Answer 3

the more exposure we have to a stimulus, the more we like it.

Also works in opposite direction - additional encounter can reveal negative traits

Question 4

What “fuels” a friendship/ relationship?

how does folk wisdom encapsulate this idea? and which idea dominates current literature?

a. concept of similarity
b. concept of complementarity

Answer 4

similarity - interests, values, attitudes, background or personality.

folk wisdom:
a. “Birds of a feather flock together”

b. “Opposites attract”

Current research shows that similarity draws people together more.

Question 5

Research shows that perceived similarity is predictive of liking and attraction.

What factor influences whether or not a person picks a similar or different partner?

When might a lack of similarity be favourable?

Answer 5

level of commitment.
- more likely to chose similar partner for long term relationships

• “hook-ups”/ flings = favour different people (perceived as an adventure}

Question 6

Reciprocal liking

• attraction
• what does it compensate for?
• what does it neutralise our bias for?

Answer 6

• knowing someone likes us fuels our attraction
• liking can compensate for lack of similarity
• knowing we are liked neutralises our biases towards attractive faces

Question 7

Is physical attractiveness more important to men or women?

Answer 7

men are more likely to SAY physical attraction is important but when it comes to ACTUAL behaviour, there is no significant difference between the sexes.

Question 8

Which facial characteristics are commonly found to be attractive?

Answer 8

• symmetry. this is because they may be an indication of good health and reproductive fitness

Question 9

The power of familiarity

Answer 9

• like faces which resemble our own
• preference for safe over the unknown
• propinquity + similarity & reciprocal liking

Question 10

Examples of “pretty privilege” in research

Answer 10

• more attractive infants receiving more nurture thus having better health outcomes
• attractive ppl earn 10-15% more than below average appearance
• winning elections

Question 11

What is the halo effect?

Answer 11

cognitive bias where we assume that an individual with one positive characteristic also possess other (often unrelated) positive characteristics.

Applies online too. Assume that “What is beautiful is good”.

Question 12

evolutionary psychology

Answer 12

explaining social behaviour in terms of genetic factors which have evolved over time according to the principles of natural selection

Question 13

sex differences

Answer 13

• males and females have different agendas when selecting mates due to their roles in reproducing and raising offspring
• reproduction is costly and time consuming for women but low cost, short term investment for men
• male’s reproductive success based on quantity of offspring
• females success based on raising young into maturity

Question 14

David Buss et al. (1988) “states that finding & keeping a mate requires one to display resources”. What do men vs women look for ?

what are the three traits which are similar across genders?

Answer 14

Due to high reproductive costs, women are likely to choose men with economic & career achievements. These are resources which aid the raising of a child.

Men favour women who look like they can reproduce successfully ( age & health denote reproductive fitness)

honesty, trustworthiness and a pleasant personality.

Question 15

alternative perspectives on sex differences

• women too
• conditioning
• status

Answer 15

• evolutionary advantages of multiple partners should apply to women too
• social conditioning teaches men to value physical attractiveness more not evolution
• women may depend on men for financial support and power in less wealth economies

Question 16

Finkel and Eastwick (2009) found that when college female participants did the approaching in a speed dating scenario, they were excited about their prospective mates and less selective than when males approached.

What does this say about the evolutionary explanation?

Answer 16

sex differences in mates does not reflect evolution/ biology. It is influenced by societies’ tendency to have men approach women first.

approaching gives one control and being approached fuels the feeling of being “in demand” and having options.

Question 17

What effect does having an electronic device present have on social interaction?

Answer 17

• Less connection, trust & empathy for the other person.

- decreased levels of trust,

Question 18

How is propinquity affected by the online era?

Answer 18

• physical distance is less of an obstacle
• the internet means we are more indirectly connected to friends of friends through “degrees of separation” - there are less DOS in the modern age (impacting propinquity)

Question 19

How is similarity affected by the online era?

In the study by Taylor et al. (2011) popular participants were more likely to message…

Answer 19

…other popular participants. Reiterating the finding that we tend to approach those who look similar to us and have a similar level of attractiveness (same league).

Question 20

How is familiarity affected by the online era?

Norton et al. (2007)

Answer 20

–> familiarity promotes attraction via there mere exposure effect + increased encounters can reveal negative traits thus reducing attraction

• “less is more”: the more familiar participants became post-date, the more they realised that the things in their date’s online profile was inaccurate.
• noticing more incompatibilities and dissimilarities lead to a decrease in average liking rates

Question 21

What are the three factors which are contributing to the acceptability and increased popularity of online dating in modern times?

Answer 21

online dating websites provide 3 services:

1) aggregating large number of profiled for browsing
2) opportunity for communication with potential mates
3) matching users based on analyses of compatibility.

Question 22

81% of participants in a study indicated that their online dating profiles were inaccurate.

which factors (in order) do ppl lie about?

Answer 22

1. weight
2. age
3. height

no gender differences. Falsification of profiles was intentional.

Question 23

Women are more likely to unconsciously falsify their photos. True or false?

how were the photos falsified?

Answer 23

True. Self-report of accuracy of pictures wasn’t an accurate predictor of actual profile accuracy.

32% photos were misleading according to current physical appearance.

• looking thinner
• more hair in profile
• retouched/ airbrushed photos

Question 24

What are the indictors that a profile is more likely to be falsified? ( Toma & Hancock., 2012)

Answer 24

1. fewer first-person pronouns e.g. I and me
   - -> they want to psychologically distance themselves from their half truths.
2. use of negation or negative turns of phrase; e.g. “not judgemental” instead of “open-minded”.
3. Fewer total words than accurate profiles

Question 25

Define aggression.

What are the theories of aggression?

how is violence distinguished from aggression?

Answer 25

intentional behaviour aimed at causing physical harm or psychological pain to another.

evolutionary, cultural and learning.

Violence is extreme aggression e.g. war murder, assault.

Question 26

What is hostile aggression?

What is instrumental aggression?

Answer 26

hostile aggression: stems from anger and is aimed at inflicting pain or injury. (more impulsive)

instrumental aggression: as a means to some goal other than causing pain. (calculated)

Question 27

Explain the biological views of aggression (3 branches)

Answer 27

1. psychodynamic - aggression satisfies the Thanatos
2. Ethology - relates to instincts, the human urge to fight
3. Evolutionary - genetic survival - defend existing resources or acquire new ones

Question 28

Evolutionary view

• benefits of male aggression
• two reasons for male aggression
• female aggression
• other animals (2 reasons)

Answer 28

• physical aggression genetically programmed into men as it enables group protection and perpetuates their genes
• two main reasons for male aggression:
  a) establish dominance over other males
  b) sexual jealousy - perserve genes by making sure their mate isn’t having sex with another male
• female aggression: to protect offspring
• animals:
  a) Predatory: preying on other animals for food
  b) Antipredatory: defence from other animals (especially young ones)

Question 29

Cultural view

• capacity
• honour & causes

Answer 29

• humans have a capacity for aggression - whether or not we use it is based on circumstances and culture

cultures of honour: aggression in men is seen as valuable due to protection. caused by:

• resources can by taken by other men
• weak governing body
• women who disrespect a mans honour are subject to domestic violence

Question 30

Gender & Aggression view

Answer 30

• females more likely to engage in relational aggression (gossip, manipulation, exclusion, slut-shaming)
• men more physically aggressive
• for less violent aggression there is an overlap between F & M - e.g. gender difference shrinks when both are insulted and women are given the same chance to retaliate (other’s don’t know their gender)

Cyberbullying -impulsive or planned
less severe: prank calls, mild insults

severe: explicit images, rumours

Question 31

Social-Cognitive Learning Theory

• what happens when children are exposed to non-aggressive models?

Answer 31

states that people learn social behaviour (e.g. aggression or altruism) through observation and imitation of others through cognitive processes such as plans, expectations and beliefs.

• children are less likely to be aggressive when provoked

Question 32

Physiological influences of alcohol on aggression

• what is the “drink think effect”

Answer 32

alcohol:

• causes aggression because it lowers anxiety & social inhibitions –> we are less cautious
• cognitive processes impaired
• drink think effect: when people expect alcohol to have an effect, it will have that impact on us. (e.g. if we think we will be aggressive drinkers, our behaviour will reflect that)

Question 33

Physiological influences of pain and heat

Answer 33

• it is a distraction from pain
• heat increases aggression
• global warming leading to more aggression: economic factors, flooding, wars, famine

Question 34

Frustration - Aggression Hypothesis

Answer 34

definition: if you perceive that you are being stopped to achieving a goal (frustration) this will cause aggression.

• Doesn’t always lead to aggression; factors such as size/strength of instigator and their ability to retaliate are conducive for aggressive reactions
• less aggressive when frustration was accidental, legitimate

STUDY
- Young children in a room with toys
- Half were not allowed to play with them at first; but later allowed to
play
- The other half could play with them.

RESULT?
- Kids that were frustrated destroyed the toys

Happens due to: Closeness to the goal
May not happen if the other person is bigger in size,